Haeseong Hospital in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang to Receive 317 Million Won in Funding This Year... Selected for 'Pediatric Support Project in Medically Underserved Areas'

Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 3rd that it has been selected for the “2024 Pediatric and Adolescent Department Support Project for Medically Underserved Areas” hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in which it participated together with Bonghwa County.

This public project aims to select capable medical institutions in underserved areas where pediatric and adolescent departments are not available among essential medical services, and provide them with operational funding.

Bonghwa Haesung Hospital

The only institution nationwide to receive this operational funding is Haeseong Hospital in Bonghwa County, which was ultimately selected.

The selection of the project institution was determined through a comprehensive evaluation, including a written review of the project plan and an oral presentation, by the Pediatric and Adolescent Department Selection Committee for Medically Underserved Areas, which is composed of experts from academia, the medical community, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

To secure selection for this public project, Gyeongbuk Province actively supported the initiative by communicating with Bonghwa County throughout the process, from drafting the project plan to presenting before the review committee, strongly emphasizing the necessity of the project and the local government’s commitment to its implementation.

Pediatric and adolescent medically underserved areas are designated based on analysis of the public’s medical usage and distribution status in accordance with Article 12 of the Public Health and Medical Services Act. As of 2023, a total of 22 cities and counties in 9 provinces nationwide are included, with Gyeongbuk Province accounting for four (Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Bonghwa, and Ulleung).

Bonghwa Haesung Hospital Consultation Room Scene

With Haeseong Hospital in Bonghwa being selected for the project in 2024, following Yeongdeok Asan Hospital in 2019 and Uiseong Yeongnamjeil Hospital in 2021, the number of pediatric and adolescent medically underserved areas in Gyeongbuk is expected to decrease from four (Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Bonghwa, Ulleung) to three (Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Ulleung).

The pediatric and adolescent department at Haeseong Hospital in Bonghwa began providing care in July of last year, relieving residents from the inconvenience of traveling to other regions for medical services, and currently records an average of 400 outpatient visits per month.

With this selection, the hospital will receive 192 million KRW this year for facility and equipment purchases, 125 million KRW for operational expenses, and from next year, 250 million KRW annually in ongoing operational support.

Yoon Sungyong, Director of Health Policy at Gyeongbuk Province, stated, “We are very pleased that Bonghwa County, a pediatric and adolescent medically underserved area, has been selected for this project,” adding, “By improving pediatric and adolescent medical infrastructure, we aim to create a child-rearing-friendly environment where parents can raise their children with peace of mind, and we will take the lead in addressing the low birth rate issue.”